Swimmer&#39;s hand paddle



m 1927' c. H. THEOBOLD SWIMMER S HAND PADDLE Filed Sept. 7, 192 6 JMAAWW Patented Mar. 22, 1927.

UNITED STATES E!) CHARLES H. THEOBOLD, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SWIMMERS HAND PADDLE.

Application filed September 7. 1926.

My invention relates to a. swimmers paddle, one of which may be secured to each hand Oil the swimmer; and the objects of my invention are, first, to providea means where- 5 by the swimmer may make slower strokes,

thus making swimming easier; second, a paddle to help the beginner; third, a paddle that can be easily taken off the hand while swimming; fourth, a paddle that will assist the swimmer in making more speed; and, fifth,

a paddle that is light in construction and impervious to water.

I attain these objects by the paddle illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in

which-- Figure 1 is a. plan View of the entire paddle showing hand in place; Fig. 2, a perspective view of the paddle as it appears as ter the removal of the hand. Figure 3 is a bag or container for the paddles when not in use.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts in Figures 1 and 2 on the drawing.

The board or plate A, the finger strap B, the wrist strap C and the ring D, secured to the end of the strap C, constitute the main parts of the paddle. The board or plate A is of only sufficient thickness to give strength, is rectangular in shape, eXcept at its upper end where the corners are shaped as shown at l 1, and the plate is provided with the hole 7, located near one corner of plate A. The steel strip 3, to give strength to the plate A, is placed on the board A at right angles to the long way of the board and the strap B is placed on the steel strip 3 and both are secured to the plate A by means of small bolts or rivets 4 l, which eX- tend through the plate A. The strap C is secured to the plate A, near one corner. by means of bolt or rivet 5. The strap C is brought through hole 7 in plate A and the end of the strap is provided with a ring D, which is secured in the loop made fast by the rivet 6.

The plate A may be made of metal or wood. However, I prefer the hardwood Serial No. 133,887.

known as black walnut treated in linseed oil for 24 hours making it impervious to water.

The drawings show the paddle for the right hand and I wish it understood that in making the paddle :tor the left hand the same plate A is used and the steel strip 3 and the straps B and C are secured to the other side of the paddle in the same position with reference to the paddle or plate A as for the right hand.

To secure the paddle to the hand insert hand under wrist strap C and thumb of hand within ring D; then push the hand until three fingers are under strap B and hand will be in position shown in Figure 1. By movement of thumb and wrist the band C may be tightened or loosened, or if desired the thumb may be easily removed from the ring D by proper movement of the thumb. When thumb is removed from ring D the wrist strap C is loosened and the hand of the swimmer may be easily removed. This I consider very important as a swimmer may wish to remove paddle without the use of both hands, which would be required if paddle straps were secured by buckles or similar means.

Having thus fully described my invention I claim:

A swimmers paddle comprising a board or plate containing a hole near one corner and two straps for securing the paddle to the hand of the swimmer, one strap being attached to the paddle at both ends so as to provide a hold for the fingers between the plate and the strap and the other strap being secured to the paddle near one corner and the strap brought through the hole in the paddle near the opposite corner and the end of the strap provided with a ring, that will tit over the thumb of the swimmer, and said strap being placed so that the wrist of the swimmer may be placed under the strap between the hole in the paddle and the end where the strap is secured to the paddle;

substantially as described.

CHARLES H. THEOBOLD. 

